WHY TAKE SOCIAL WORK COURSES AT MCC?

.important aspects of MCC's AA degree, majoring in Social Work:

  • You can take MCC's Associate's Partnership Degree (APD), majoring in Social Work, which is two years of courses of full-time study here at MCC, have an AA degree, and transfer over to ASU for the final two years of the baccalaureate degree in social work, the BSW.


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  • If you take your core social work courses at MCC, you have opportunities to explore your aptitude for this work by engaging in service learning and mini internships at a community site of your choice.


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  • MCC's Associate's Partnership Degree (APD), majoring in Social Work, can set you on your way toward having your BSW and MSW within three years of graduating with your AA from MCC. ASU Main offers a fast track one year master's degree in Social Work (MSW) for students who are already in their BSW program and are accepted into ASU's Honors program. Minimum GPA's at ASU must be met.


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  • The Master's Degree in Social Work, (MSW), is one of the most marketable degrees in the country, according to US News and World Report's annual assessment of top degrees in the country. (F o r D e t a i l s : w w w . u s n e w s . c o m ; article taken from: NASW News, Feb. '99 Vol. 44, #2)


  • From 1960 to 1994, the number of employed social workers grew nationally by nearly 600% - from 95,000 to 557,000.   Employment of social workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005.*


  • AZ needs you!! From 1995 to 2005 the demand for social workers in the USA is anticipated to grow by 34%...in Arizona, that figure is over double, with a 76% increase expected.*


  • if you are interested in counseling, social workers now provide more than half of all therapy services (NASW)


  • Only about two of five social workers are employed by public social welfare agencies*. Social work services are sought by the private sector and criminal justice programs, among the many other choices available.


  • Salaries for MSW's range from an entry level of $32,500 - $52,500 (NASW)


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*U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook: 1996-1997 Edition (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, 1996), p.133

The Social Work Program at MCC is designed to serve three purposes:  1) for social work majors, as a Associate's Partnership Degree (APD), which enables students to obtain an AA degree in social work, which then transfers to ASU Main as the first two years' coursework of the BSW curriculum; 2) to satisfy the requirements for the first 64 credit hours for most public college or university programs in social work, and 3) to allow students who are interested in exploring the human resource field to take relevant courses which will transfer to major public universities.

Transferability

MCC's courses in social work transfer to all state universities as university equivalent courses, departmental elective credit, or elective credit. Students planning to transfer to schools outside Arizona should consult that school's catalog for specific transfer information. Social Work Majors - It is recommended that social work majors take the following CORE social work courses along with other required general education courses prior to transferring to a four-year college or university. It is strongly recommended that students take SOC101, ENG101, and PSY101 prior to taking the core social work courses.

SOCIAL WORK CORE
COURSES - 9 CREDITS

  • SWU171 Introduction to Social Welfare
    ASU Main equivalent SWU271, a core required course

  • SWU291 Social Service Delivery Systems
    (Formerly Community Resource)
    ASU Main equivalent SWU291, a core required course

  • SWU292 Effective Helping in a Diverse World
    (Formerly SWU208)
    SWU292 transfers to ASU Main as the equivalent of their SWU295, a core required course.

  • Recommended:
    SWU282 Volunteerism in Social Work
    This course is a service-learning individualized course that can contribute to the 240 hours of relevant paid or volunteer hours required for admission into ASU's BSW Program. PLEASE NOTE: Students can complete approximately 64 credits, including general education credits, at MCC before transferring to a BSW program. Those interested in the TPD can pick up a list of required courses from MCC Advisement, and can seek advisement from the lead social work faculty in the Cultural Science Department at MCC (461- 7060). It is highly recommended that students work closely with an advisor in selecting classes.

Opportunities

Employment opportunities for persons with a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) include case management services with diverse populations, such as people with behavioral health disorders including addictions and eating disorders; individuals with developmental, health, educational and physical disabilities; the elderly; abused children and adolescents; survivors and victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse; the terminally ill; the poor, and the homeless. A wide selection of jobs are available to professional social workers-those with a BSW or master's in social work (MSW)-in residential treatment, family counseling, private practice, school social work, hospital social work, managed care, research, community organizing, human resource divisions in government and private industry, advocacy and lobbying, gerontology, administration of human service programs and agencies, and the criminal justice system. Social workers can continue their university education beyond a master's degree to a doctoral degree, which can be either a DSW or PhD. (See also Why social work?)

For More Infomation

Please call (480) 461-7060 or email Sue McAleavey if you have any questions or need more information concerning the Social Work program at Mesa Community College.